Data Governance and AI Risk Manager

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Contract type: Permanent
Location: Edinburgh - Waverley Gate, Alderley Park
Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based

To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we have received a high number of applications or identified enough suitable candidates for the next stage of the process. We encourage you to apply as early as you can.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Data Governance and AI Risk Manager to join our Group Risk & Compliance function within the Technology & Resilience Risk team.

As Royal London continues to evolve its use of data and artificial intelligence, this role will play a pivotal part in helping the Group adopt and use these technologies responsibly. You'll provide independent oversight, challenge and specialist support across Data Governance and AI risk, ensuring our approach remains secure, compliant, well governed and aligned to our risk appetite.

Working closely with the Group Data & AI Office, business owners and Risk & Controls teams across all three lines of defence, you'll influence decision-making on strategic initiatives, review emerging AI use cases and provide expert insight on key risks and controls. This is an excellent opportunity to shape the future of Data Governance and AI risk management at one of the UK's leading financial services organisations while helping deliver good outcomes for our customers and members.

About the role

• Provide independent second-line oversight and challenge across Data Governance and AI risk, supporting the safe and responsible adoption of AI technologies.
• Review and challenge AI use case risk assessments and governance decisions, including generative AI initiatives, significant changes and new implementations.
• Deliver targeted assurance activities across data governance frameworks, AI lifecycle controls and AI adoption practices.
• Monitor, analyse and report Data Governance and AI risks, ensuring meaningful risk metrics and appetite measures are in place and regularly reviewed.
• Support the identification, escalation and remediation of material data and AI-related risks, control weaknesses and incidents.
• Provide clear, evidence-based risk opinions and insights to senior leaders, risk committees and governance forums to support decision-making.
• Act as an AI champion within Group Risk & Compliance, promoting innovation while helping maintain a strong and effective risk culture.

About you

• Experience in second-line risk management, operational risk, technology risk, data risk or a similar discipline within a regulated or complex environment.
• Good understanding of data governance principles, including data ownership, quality management, metadata, lineage, retention and access controls.
• Knowledge of AI governance and lifecycle controls, alongside responsible AI principles such as transparency, explainability, fairness and human oversight.
• Understanding of generative AI risks and controls, including approved tool use, output validation, monitoring and human-in-the-loop practices.
• Ability to interpret policy and regulatory expectations and translate them into pragmatic risk and control requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to provide independent challenge while building collaborative relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.

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About Royal London

We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.

We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance.

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We’re an inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.